Double action rotating toothbrush



May 30, 1933. n T RUSE 1,911,973

DOUBLE ACTION ROTATTNG TOOTHBRUSH Filed June 9 1932 Patented May 39,1933 UNTED STATES THOMAS RUSE, F HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN DOUBLE ACTIONYBIO'JTA'IING: TOOTHBR'USH Application filed J'une 9, w32. S'eral No.616,231'.

My invention relates to improvements in toothbrushes andy morekparticularly rotary toothbrushes.

It is an obj ect of the invention to provide a toothbrush having opposedrotary brushes,

manually operable to clean the inside andY outside of the teethsimultaneously.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary toothbrushcomprising opposed brushes and tensioning means for holding the brushesin rm contact with the teeth.

A still further object of the invention resides in detachably mountingthe rotary brushes on the handle, so they may be readily removed and newbrushes substituted therefor, when necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of theabove-mentioned character which is simple and durable in construction,reliable and efficient in use and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the toothbrush,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on lines 5--5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the handle of the toothbrushcomprises a tubular casing 5, having a reduced upper end 6, theextremity of which is square to receive the outer rotary brush 7, whichis supported thereon by the collar 8, resting on the shoulder 7 and thebrush is removably held in place by the nut 8', threaded on the end 6.The outer surface of the casing 5, is knurled, so as to be easilygripped between the fingers and slidably'mounted in the lower end of thecasing is a plunger 9 having a knurled flange 10 at its lower end. Theplunger 9 is provided with a central screw-threaded bore 11, to receivethe screw-threaded rod 12 extending from the -shaft 13, extendinglongitudinally of the casing 5.' The lower end of the shaft 13 is squareshape, as at .14, and is adapted to fit in the square bore of thereduced end C0 6, establishing connection between the shaft and end' 6of the casing, so that turning of the casing will rotate the shaft. Theupper end of the shaft 13 is round, as at 15, and extends beyond theupper end of the casing,` having its upper extremity of square shape, asat 16, to receive the inner rotary bush 17 which rests on the washer 17and is held thereon by the nut 18. A ferrule 19 mounted on the upper endof the shaft 15, between 7 0 the inner and outer brushes, holds thebrushes in proper spaced relation. The bristles 20 of the brushes aredisposed in confronting relation and it will'be observed that thebristle face of the inner brush is beveled. r A coil spring 21 ismounted on the lower end of the shaft 13 between the shoulder 22 andplunger 9 and maintains a tension on the shaft to draw the brushestogether.

In use, the handle `of the toothbrush is v grasped between the thumb andforefinger of one han-d with the plunger 9 resting in the palm of thehand and upon pulling the handle downwardly the plunger 9 will bedepressed, moving the brushes 7 and 17 apart, 85 so as to permit thebrushes to be disposed within the mouth in proper relation to the teeth.Upon release of the plunger 9, the coil spring 21 will move the brushesinto firm contact with the inner and outer sides l of the teeth and theferrule 19 is gripped between the upper and lower teeth holding thebrushes in place. Upon turning the handle with the fingers the brusheswill be rotated and the inner and outer sides of the teeth will be lsimultaneously cleaned.

vBy turning the plunger 9, the spring 21 may teeth.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatcertain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A rotary toothbrushcomprising a handle, a shaft slidably mounted in said handle andconnected therewith, a pair of opposed rotary brushes, respectivelymounted on said handle and shaft, and tensioning means for holding saidbrushes together.

2. A rotary toothbrush comprising a han-- dle, a shaft slidably mountedin said handle, a brush mounted on the upper end of said handle, asecond brush mounted on the upper end of said shaft in opposed relationto said first mentioned brush, a ferrule mounted on said shaft betweensaid brushes, and tensioning means for holding said brushes together.

3. A rotary toothbrush comprising a tubular handle, a shaft slidablymounted in said handle, a brush xedly mounted on the upper end of saidhandle, a second brush mounted on the upper end of said shaft in opposedrelation to said first mentioned brush, a ferrule mounted on said shaftbetween said brushes, a plunger slidably mounted in the lower end ofsaid handle having threaded connection with said shaft, and a coilspring mounted on said shaft, normally holding said brushes together.

4. A rotary toothbrush comprising a tubular handle, a shaft slidablymounted in said handle, a brush fxedly mounted on the upper end of saidhandle, a second brush mounted on the upper end of said shaft inkopposed relation to said first mentioned brush, tensioning means lforholding said brushes together and means for adjusting said tensioningmeans.

5. A rotary toothbrush comprising a tubular handle, a shaft slidablymounted in said handle, a brush fixedly mounted on the upper end of saidhandle, aV second brush mounted on the upper end of said shaft inopposed relation to said` first mentioned brush, a plunger slidablymounted in the lower end of said handle having adjustable connectionwith said shaft, and a coil spring mounted on said shaft between saidplunger and a shoulder in said handle.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature.

THOMAS RUSE.

